Page 14 of Always, Plus One

Miles shook his head. "Ariel, Emily is my ex-wife."

Ariel's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? What's she doing here?"

"I have no idea," Miles said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I haven't seen her in almost two years."

Ariel watched Miles closely, his eyes locked on the doorway as if he was afraid of what might come through it. Emily. His ex-wife. Ariel had never met her before, but the tension in the kitchen was thick enough to cut with a knife. She wondered what had happened between the two of them, and why their divorce had dragged on for so long—but he hadn’t shared much, and she’d respected that it was a delicate subject that he might have needed time to talk about.

Well, the time might be now—since she’d shown up at Leeside unannounced. Darcy slid a ticket onto the counter next to Ariel and whispered, “This is table eight—it’s her order.”

Ariel put her fingertips onto the paper slip and stared, not really seeing. She heard Darcy slip out of the back door, leaving her and Miles alone.

“Do you want to go out there and talk to her?” Ariel asked. “Do you want me to ask her to leave?”

“No,” he said. “What if she causes a scene? On your opening night? She can be really dramatic.”

Ariel could see the pain etched on Miles's face as he spoke of his ex-wife. Their ongoing divorce had not been an easy one, and the wounds were still fresh. Ariel had always known that Miles was going through a divorce, but she had never realized just how much it was affecting him. The fact that Emily had shown up here, of all places, seemed like more than just a coincidence. She couldn't help but wonder what Emily was doing here, and why she had shown up now after all this time.

“I—I have to go,” Miles said. He quickly kissed her cheek before turning to the back door, opening it to a wave of warm summer air and the smell of the sea.

“Miles, wait. Stay. You don’t have to go out there, but stay and talk to me.”

His features were pinched. “Ari, I’m sorry. I just can’t. I’ll call you later.” He paused. "I'm sorry for all of this," he added. "I never wanted to drag you into my personal life like this."

"We'll figure this out together," she said. "You're not alone.”

Miles smiled at her, his eyes brightening slightly. "Thank you," he said. "I don't know what I would do without you."

And then, he was gone, softly closing the back kitchen door behind him. Darcy was quick to come back in from the porch, and Ariel almost laughed, thinking of whathemust think about all the drama around Leeside. He’d come for peace and quiet and gotten theYoung and the Restless.

“I’ll make that last ticket. And I’m happy to run it out,” Darcy said.

Ariel's mind was racing a mile a minute, and her emotions were in a complete tailspin. She couldn't believe that Miles's ex-wife had just shown up at Leeside, and the fact that he was so shaken by it only added to her own confusion and worry.

As she stood in the kitchen, her breathing became shallow and rapid, and she felt her heart rate increase. She could feel her muscles tensing up, and she couldn't help but fidget and pace back and forth, unable to sit still. Her mind was flooded with questions and doubts, and she didn't know what to do or say next.

She knew her face must be showing signs of distress—a furrowed brow, pursed lips, and a worried expression. But Ariel didn’t want Darcy to know she was so conflicted. She nervously bit her lower lip, her hands trembling as she tried to steady herself. Ariel couldn't believe that things had gotten so complicated, and she didn't know how to make sense of it all.

Ariel felt completely overwhelmed, and she knew that she needed to talk to Miles as soon as possible. But as he disappeared out the back door, she felt a sense of panic rise inside of her. She was alone with her thoughts and emotions, and she didn't know how to make sense of any of it. All she could do was try to take deep breaths and stay as calm as possible, even as her emotions continued to spiral out of control.

“Ariel?” Darcy remind gently. “The order for Emily?”

For now, she had guests to attend to, and a restaurant to run. “You plate it,” she said softly. “And I’ll take it out.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Ariel took a deep breath as she approached the table where Miles’sex-wifesat. She had liked Emily when they’d first met, despite the weird feeling she’d gotten, and Ariel was a little taken aback that she should somehow now have to be wary. It just wasn’t in Ariel’s nature to flip from politeness to animosity without provocation—and having been married to Miles before Ariel had ever come along wasn’t a provocation. The woman looked up as Ariel came closer, and her eyes crinkled as she smiled. Ariel kept her cool and smiled back.

“Hello, Emily,” Ariel said, her voice calm and composed. “Here’s your house special, salmon and risotto.” She slid the warm plate onto the table in front of Emily, and Emily looked down and smiled wider.

The dish was a work of art, a symphony of colors and textures that beckoned the senses. At the center of the plate was a perfectly cooked piece of salmon, pink and moist, with a crisp skin that crackled with every bite. The fish was nestled on a bed of creamy risotto, the grains plump and tender, infused with the richness of Parmesan cheese and the fragrance of saffron.

Surrounding the salmon and risotto were small piles of jewel-toned vegetables, meticulously arranged to create a striking visual display. Bright green asparagus spears stood at attention, their tips charred and smoky. Blood-red cherry tomatoes burst with sweetness, while tiny yellow squash added a touch of brightness to the plate.

Drizzled around the edge of the plate was a reduction of red wine and pomegranate, a deep, dark liquid that added a tangy, sweet note to the dish. The plate was finished with a sprinkling of chopped fresh herbs, adding a burst of vibrant color and a final touch of flavor.

Emily took a bite and sighed. “Wow. What is this sauce?”

“Red wine reduction,” Ariel answered, trying not to sound short—Emily hadn’t been rude to her, but the tension of now knowing what Ariel knew was making Ariel nervous.

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